Hanigan makes world science scholar

Karly Larsen

Sugar Beet Staff Reporter

Olivia Hanigan: human form of stress, Christmas year-round supporter, a “The Office” enthusiast and a World Science Scholar. In the summer of 2017, Hanigan traveled to Durham, North Carolina to attend the Talented Identification Program (TIP) at Duke University. Here, Hanigan took part in various courses at the collegiate level along with many other students across the country. It was through this program that Hanigan was nominated and decided to apply to World Science Scholars (WSS), which is a program dedicated to seeking out mathematically gifted children and preparing them for careers in science. The application process to WSS first begins with an application form, recommendation letters from both a teacher and parent, and eight essays. Along with the prior requirements, a board looks over applicants’ past test results including that of the ACT. If accepted, applicants get to experience collegiate level courses and other experiences in the future. Hanigan was one of the 45 applicants accepted into WSS, 29 of them being male and 16 female, spanning across five different countries.“When I found out I was accepted I was just so thrilled and happy,” Hanigan, health academy junior, said. In this program, members get to take 16 advanced courses online from various professors that are based in universities such as Oxford, Harvard, MIT, Stanford along with many other notable universities and institutes. Their first course is set to be A Beautiful Universe: Black Holes, STring Theory, and the laws of Nature as Mathematicl Puzzles taught by Dr. Cumrun Vafa, a physics professor at Harvard. Halfway through the program members will submit a research proposal. If the proposal is accepted, the member will receive grants to fund the project. The project will then be presented at the World Science Festival hosted in New York City, New York during the month of April. The World Science Festival is a week-long event and in previous years have had speakers including Stephen Hawking, Mary-Claire King and Sylvia Earle.Not only have programs across the nation noticed Hanigan’s intelligence and academic achievements, fellow classmates of Hanigan have as well.“I feel that she has earned what she has worked for,” Megan Cady, trade academy junior, said. “She’s going places academically and career wise for sure.” In classrooms, teachers are sure to notice Hanigan’s talents too. “She has an incredible mind,” Mark Cruz, technical physics teacher, said.“She has her own way of thinking that is very advanced for her age.” Hanigan will begin her online courses at the end of September and will begin to test the limit of her knowledge.Karly Larson is a trade and health junior. You can contact her at larsonk1@student.gckschools.com.